2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR.. Oh my…!

We’ve had the new VW Beetle already in several versions, the normal, the Turbo and the convertible ones to be specific, but when I first aw images of this GSR version I immediately put in a request for it. This is not just a simple ‘Bumblebee’ version of the Beetle. It is in fact much more than that.

[singlepic id=16772 w=640 h=480 float=center]Already look at the paint work. Yes, paint work. It is not striping! The black striping on the hood are not simple stickers added to it, not are they simple layers of matt paint added to it either. The black is in fact perfectly flush pain work, so perfectly flush that is seems impossible that these are separate colors.

The GSR is a modern re-interpretation of the 1970s GSR (â€œYellow Black Racerâ€).
The body and the R-Line bumpers on the new GSR are predominantly yellow, the hood is mainly black, and the trunklid, roof, and the exterior mirror caps are all black. The new car has yellow/black stripes with â€œGSRâ€ lettering above the side skirts and a large rear spoiler to complete the look. The car rides on 19-inch â€œTornadoâ€ aluminum-alloy wheels shod with 235/40 tires and also features black-painted brake calipers.

Then as now, the GSR features a unique interior with a yellow/black theme, sport seats, and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel. The black-trimmed leather seating surfaces and high-grip leather-wrapped steering wheel both have contrasting yellow stitching. Other interior changes include a GSR shift lever, a leather-wrapped handbrake, and black floormats with contrasting yellow embroidery. A badge on the steering wheel is marked with the special-edition number (1 through 3500) to emphasize the uniqueness of the car.

The base Beetleâ€™s 2.5-liter engine will be phased out later in the 2014 model year and replaced by a new, locally sourced, turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. This will produce 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque and is expected to offer highly competitive fuel economy. Electro-mechanical power steering replaces the 2.5â€™s hydraulic setup.